Biology for biomimetics I: function as an interdisciplinary bridge in bio-inspired design

Area of Science:

• Bio-inspired design
• Evolutionary biology
• Biomimetics

Background:

• The concept of 'function' is central to bio-inspired design, enabling the translation of biological models to human applications.
• Interdisciplinary challenges arise from differing interpretations of 'function' across scientific fields.
• Core biological concepts like adaptation, tradeoffs, and fitness are crucial for understanding biological functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key biological concepts relevant to 'function' for bio-inspired design.
• To align evolutionary and organismal biology principles with a top-down biomimetics approach.
• To guide engineers and designers in exploring biological analogies for problem-solving.

Main Methods:

• Review of core concepts in evolutionary and organismal biology.
• Analysis of how biological functions relate to adaptation, tradeoffs, and fitness.
• Exploration of functional analogies across an organism's life cycle and evolutionary history.

Main Results:

• Biological functions can be explored by considering diverse aspects of an organism's life and evolutionary trajectory.
• An evolutionary perspective clarifies potential trade-offs and identifies promising biological models.
• Understanding trait evolution enhances the search for biological inspiration.

Conclusions:

• A foundational understanding of biological concepts aids engineers and designers in bio-inspired innovation.
• Integrating evolutionary biology principles enriches the biomimetic design process.
• This review provides a framework for leveraging biological function in design applications.